erik wolpaw

News

Yes, Gabe Newell Is Goin’ To Australia

8:40AM Michael McWhertor | Getting Valve’s big boss to fly halfway ’round the world isn’t as hard as you might think. All it takes it a few thousand dollars and a handful of e-mails. Yes, Gabe Newell is going to Australia. More »
News

Harold Ramis On Why It’s Hard To Make Funny Video Games

1:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Compared to the number of funny movies, the number of funny games is quite low. Good comedy is hard! More »

Portal Devs Reveal The GLaDOS That Never Was, Inspiration Behind Weighted Companion Cube

6:00PM Michael McWhertor | Kim Swift and Erik Wolpaw, two of the key developers on Portal, gave GDC attendees a behind the scenes look at The Orange Box hit, focusing on the process of integrating narrative and design. The two also showed early and, by their own admission, failed, version’s of the game’s final boss fight with GLaDOS, the talkative, ever present artificial intelligence. They highlighted three attempts at making a successful boss battle, driving home the fact that ample playtesting brought them to the incinerator battle they ultimately settled on. More »